US 52 fatality baffles family, friends, police

Amanda Angstadt — Mandi, to her friends — lived for her son, 14-year-old Isaac, and now her son must find a way to live without his mom, who was killed early Sunday in an accident in neighboring Benton County.

"Her life had been devoted to Isaac and all his activities," said Heather Stafford, Angstadt's college roommate. They became best friends in high school. "His mom was his life. I can't imagine it."

The accident that claimed Angstadt's life has family, friends and police scratching their heads, trying to piece together what happened.

Angstadt, 35, of Lafayette, was driving westbound on U.S. 52 when she stopped her car in the middle of the divided four-lane highway shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. The road isn't heavily traveled at that hour, Benton County Sheriff Boston L. Pritchett said. Officers have not determined where she might have been going or from where she came, Pritchett said.

"She left her car in the middle of the passing lane — no lights on it," Pritchett said, adding there was nothing mechanically wrong with her car or its lights. "For some reason she decided to leave her car in the middle of the road and walk down the middle of the road."

A short time after Angstadt set out on foot, westbound, V. Scott Vignere, 57, of Cedar Lake, passed Angstadt's car and thought he should turn around and check to see if anyone needed help, Pritchett said. But before he could slow down and turn around, Vignere's vehicle struck Angstadt, killing her, Pritchett said.

On that stretch of road near Benton County Road 500 East, the funny girl who a friend, Drew Keller, said could make anyone feel at ease, died miles from her family and from her son.

Keller, who lives and works in Indianapolis, spent Monday trying to console her family and friends while contemplating what this might mean to Angstadt's son.

"She got so much joy out of watching this young man grow up," Keller said. "It's not easy for a mother to raise a man."

But Mandy instilled values and character in her son that would make any mother proud, Keller said.

Stunned by the news of Angstadt's death, Stafford struggled to find the right words to describe her friend.

"She was very outgoing," Stafford said. "She knew how to brighten your day. She was one of those people who always lifted your spirits."

Stafford moved to the northeast side of Indianapolis and hadn't seen Angstadt in person for a few years, but they kept in touch through Facebook, sharing photos of their children and snippets of their lives.

Similarly, Keller had moved out of the area but kept in touch. When he could, he'd visit with Mandy, and they'd catch one of Isaac's football or basketball games or a track meet.

"Everything she did and how proud she was of Isaac, I can't put into words," Keller said.

Meanwhile, in Benton County, police continued the investigation into what might have caused Angstadt to park her car on a four-lane highway and begin walking.

Inside the car, officers found a cup containing alcohol, Pritchett said, but it will be a couple of weeks before toxicology reports are completed to know if she was impaired, he said.

"It's definitely out of character for her," Stafford said when told about the drink found in the cupholder.

Stafford recalled a conversation with Angstadt after an alcohol-related incident involving one of their friends in 2011. During that visit, Angstadt told Stafford that she had sworn off drinking, and she was too busy to party.

Angstadt's death left Stafford with a tinge of regret Monday because their busy lives made it difficult to catch up in anything more meaningful than social media posts.

"It's awful," Stafford said. "I'll never get that next chance to tell her how great of a friend she was."